Mayor Announces Federal Funds Will Be Spent To Help Houston Neighborhoods

On Wednesday, Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced that that $151 million in federal disaster relief money will be used to help rebuild and repair buildings in four areas of Houston. The areas were damaged due to Hurricane Ike. The money will be channeled to: Acres Homes, Independence Heights, a northeast Houston crescent centered around the Fifth Ward and Sunnyside/South Park/South Union. The neighborhoods saw tremendous devastation after Hurricane Ike and the money is geared toward neighborhood redevelopment and the rebuilding of individual homes.

During Wednesday’s announcement, Mayor Parker added that the money for these neighborhoods to rebuild and repair structures was desperately needed: “It’s about time we get this taken care of,” Parker said. “Because of the enormous devastation caused by Hurricane Ike, there’s still too many Houstonians and whole neighborhoods that are reeling from the impact”, said Parker.

Residents who live outside of the zones can still apply for federal funds as long as they are willing to relocate to the targeted neighborhoods.